4.0    LATTEY'S IN INDIA

 

Sources : Wilkinson, Wynyard R T : 99D Talbot Road, London W11 2AT and 165 - 169 Portobello Road, W11 : expert on Indian silver and author of two books : Indian Colonial Silver,European Silversmiths in India (1760 - 1860) and their marks,(Argent Press 1973), and The Makers of Indian Colonial Silver, 1987.  He has also written articles for the Country Life in September and October 1987 including a register of European goldsmiths, silversmiths, jewellers and clockmakers.  Other data from B T G Hall, 16 St Margarets Close, Berkhamsted, HP4 2LH a descendant of A J Tancred and Evelina Lattey.

 

Pittar and Co were established at 9 Old Court House Street, Calcutta on 1st August 1825, probably by Arthur Pittar, who lived in Calcutta from 1822 to 1842. It had a joint business with Pittar and Co, diamond and jewel merchants, 10 John Street, Adelphi, London. Pittar & Co operated until 1848 when they were succeeded by Charles, Nephew & Co, founded by Charles John Pittar, Parke Pittar (jun) and Thomas Powell. They were Electro-platers and gilders, and importers of papier-mache ware. Charles, Nephew & Co operated in Calcutta from 1848 to 1870 and in Simla(Allenville) from 1866 to 1870.

 

Arthur Pittar and Robert John Lattey (RJL) formed Arthur Pittar, Lattey & Co in 1835, first at 15 Tank Square, and then from 1836 to 1842 at 10 Government Place (East Side), Calcutta. The partnership was dissolved in 1842 and was succeeded by Lattey Brothers & Co at 10 Government Place. The new partners were Robert John and Arthur Pittar Lattey (APL), and Joseph Hayes. Dugald Campbell Lattey (DCL) became a partner in 1850 when Joseph Hayes left the company. Lattey Bros. ceased trading in 1855 and was succeeded by Allan & Hayes, a partnership between DCL, Joseph Hayes and a Mr Allan operating from 10 Government Place, Calcutta.  This firm purchased the Lattey Bros stock and continued the jewellery, silversmith and diamond business. It became a limited company in 1857 and went bankrupt in 1864 mainly as a result of speculation in Cotton and the activities as Merchants and Agents by a company formed in 1855 as Lattey, Callan & Co with APL, DCL and Robert Thomas Callan as partners. Lattey, Callan & Co was formed to speculate with the profits of Lattey Bros.

 

There is also a further Lattey establishment listed as Joseph Senior Lattey & Co, watchmakers, at 6 Tank Square, Calcutta, from 1841. JSL (Jun) was in Calcutta from 1839 to 1840 at 5 Loudon's Buildings and then 6 Tank Square until 1844.

 

RJL was in Calcutta from 1830 until April 1853 when he returned to Europe on the Madras. APL was in Calcutta from 1838 until 1852 when he returned to Europe on the Hindostan. (APL must have returned later if he became a partner in Lattey, Callan & Co in 1855). DCL was in Calcutta from 1843 and became MD of Allan & Hayes from 1863 to 1864.

 

Thackers Indian Directory for 1890 lists W A M Lattey (1866 - ?) as an Assistant at the New Oriental Bank Corporation and the Bengal Directory of 1881 lists D B Lattey (1854 - 1917) as an Assistant to the Debra Dhoon Tea Co. at Debra Dhoon.

 

1.0  INTRODUCTION     2.0  EARLY DATA      3.0   RECENT RESEARCH

 

5.0   LATTEY’S IN NEW ZEALAND     6.0   LATTEY LOCATIONS     7.0   NAME INDEX